LECTURE VII. 
41 
The genus Anguis is distinguislied by being 
uniformly covered with scales of a similar form in 
all parts, and commonly with very small scales. 
The common English Slowworm, the Anguis Fra- 
gilis of Linmeus, is an example of this genus, 
and is perfectly innocent, though vulgar prejudice 
still imagines its bite to be fatal. Many of the 
Indian and American Serpents of this genus are 
highly beautiful animals. 
The genus called Amphishcma is distinguished 
by having the body surrounded by complete rings 
of small square scales. The species are very few, 
and are perfectly innocent. 
Lastly the genus Cacilia is characterized by 
being only marked along the sides by a kind of 
semicircular wrinkles. These Serpents are also 
innocent. 
I have before observed that the genera of Ser- 
pents have been lately increased by the formation 
of some new ones. Of these I shall only mention 
the genus Hydrus or Water-Snake, a true and 
proper genus, and easily distinguished by the 
flattened form of the tail, which is in some species 
compressed vertically ; in others horizontally. In 
point of general appearance these Snakes resemble 
